Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

While Community Based Research (CBR) has been a cornerstone of the response to HIV and AIDS, only recently have research institutes and AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) begun to formalize CBR models. This has led to research projects increasingly involving Peer Research Associates (PRAs) - individuals who have shared experiences with the population being studied. In a recent series of focus groups examining emerging issues in CBR in BC, a number of PRAs articulated a strong desire for something more than the status quo PRA role. In response, we are developing a program to help transition senior PRA into a role known as, 'PRA-plus.' Among other things, individuals in this role would provide comprehensive support and act as a role model to peers entering into PRA work, serve as leaders and ambassadors within and outside their communities and work more extensively on personal and professional development and skills-building that takes into account their aspirations beyond being a PRA. We are seeking support to design, implement and evaluate 1) a training program to transition PRAs into the role of PRA-plus, and 2) a process for selecting candidates to participate in the training.